Image processing apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a control method for an image processing apparatus including a reading unit configured to read a document image and a printing unit configured to print the document image read by the reading unit is provided. The control method includes detecting an error in process of reading by the reading unit, causing the reading unit to perform reread processing for rereading the document image based on the error being detected, and refraining, in a case where the image processing apparatus operates in a mode in which the printing unit starts printing without waiting for the reading unit to complete reading a document image, from causing the reading unit to perform the reread processing based on the error being detected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an image processingapparatus, a control method for an image processing apparatus, and astorage medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

Some image processing apparatuses, such as image forming apparatuses,are equipped with a general technique of, when an abnormality hasoccurred during reading of a document image, suspending a readingoperation, performing error processing, and then re-performing thereading operation. The abnormality, which may occur during reading,includes, for example, an abnormality that requires users to remove adocument, such as a paper jam occurring during conveyance of a document,and an abnormality of an image transfer signal caused by noises or otherfactors.

In particular, in the case of an abnormality of an image transfersignal, merely re-performing reading may often resolve an error.Therefore, with regard to processing for re-performing reading when anabnormality of an image transfer signal is detected, it is desirablethat processing for rereading be automatically performed without waitingfor the reception of a reading re-performing instruction from the user.Such a rereading function is currently available for some image formingapparatuses.

Moreover, there is known a technique of performing reading imageprocessing and printing image processing in parallel when printing andoutputting a read document image (hereinafter referred to as “FCOTmode”).

Here, “FCOT” refers to a time required until a sheet on which image datagenerated by reading the first page of a document has been printed isoutput (First Copy Out Time).

A method for implementing the FCOT mode is discussed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2001-69318. There are also known image formingapparatuses equipped with a sequential transmission mode of performingdocument reading and transmission in parallel when performing facsimiletransmission (hereinafter referred to as “direct transmission mode”).

In the case of the FCOT mode, in which reading image processing andprinting image processing or read processing and output processing, suchas read processing and facsimile transmission processing, are performedin parallel, when an abnormality has occurred during read processing,output processing also needs to be simultaneously suspended. Inparticular, in the case of facsimile transmission processing, when anabnormality has occurred during read processing, a communication lineneeds to be interrupted. For that purpose, a retry counter is providedto control processing as follows.

For example, in the FCOT mode, in a case where image data has beenpartially transferred to the printer side, since retry may make theimage data abnormal, it is undesirable to perform retry, so that theretry counter is set to 0. On the other hand, in other processingoperations, it may be desirable to perform retry, so that the retrycounter is set to a variable equal to or greater than 1.

Furthermore, on the other hand, a power failure may occur depending onelectrical power conditions in Japan or foreign countries, such asIndia. Therefore, it may be desirable to set the threshold value of theretry counter to a variable specific for each destination.

The following are issues arising in a case where a factor causing therequirement of recovery processing attributes to an abnormality ofsignal processing.

The above-mentioned image processing apparatus detects an abnormality ofsignal processing (signal abnormality), the occurrence frequency ofwhich is not so high unlike the occurrence of a paper jam, andautomatically recovers read processing. Then, since the communicationline has already been interrupted, an unnecessary reading operation maybe performed. In addition, in a case where there is an abnormality in adata path for transferring signals, even if the image processingapparatus automatically performs reading recovery processing, a signalabnormality may occur again. Therefore, unless interruption processingis performed by the user, recovery processing may be performedunlimitedly.

Moreover, the occurrence frequency of signal abnormality varies with theelectrical power conditions of operation locations of image formingapparatuses. Therefore, in the case of the above-mentioned configurationin which the limit of the number of times of recovery processing causedby signal abnormality is fixed, it is impossible to implement recoveryprocessing adapted to each destination in which image formingapparatuses are used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image processingapparatus includes a reading unit configured to read a document image, aprinting unit configured to print the document image read by the readingunit, a detection unit configured to detect an error in process ofreading by the reading unit, and a control unit configured to cause thereading unit to perform reread processing for rereading the documentimage based on the error being detected by the detection unit, wherein,in a case where the image processing apparatus operates in a mode inwhich the printing unit starts printing without waiting for the readingunit to complete reading a document image, the control unit refrainsfrom causing the reading unit to perform the reread processing based onthe error being detected by the detection unit.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of animage processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a reading unit.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of a documentfeeder (DF) unit.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are timing charts illustrating reading signals outputfrom a contact image sensor (CIS).

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate examples of a configuration of a register.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for the imageprocessing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for the imageprocessing apparatus.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a user interface (UI) screen displayedon an operation unit.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate examples of job information about jobs thatare able to be performed by the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a UI screen displayed on the operationunit.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a UI screen displayed on the operationunit.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a UI screen displayed on the operationunit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

<System Configuration>

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of animage processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. In the present exemplary embodiment, the imageprocessing apparatus is, for example, a multifunction peripheral, whichis capable of performing multiple functions.

Referring to FIG. 1, constituent units included in a control unit 115are connected to a system bus 101 and an image bus 110. A read-onlymemory (ROM) 102 stores a system boot program. System software, whichimplements each unit in the present exemplary embodiment, is stored inthe ROM 102 or a storage memory 105, and is executed by a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 103.

A random access memory (RAM) 104 is a system work memory used for theCPU 103 to execute software, and is also an image memory used totemporarily store image data for processing. The storage memory 105 isused as an internal storage. The storage memory 105 stores data read bya reading unit 112, image data, and system software. The storage memory105 is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD).The storage memory 105 is partitioned into a plurality of sections, eachof which is capable of storing a read document image.

In the present exemplary embodiment, each region of the storage memory105 used to store an image is referred to as a “box”. A local areanetwork (LAN) interface (I/F) unit 106 is used to connect to a LAN andperforms input and output of information with various devices connectedto the LAN. The ROM 102, the CPU 103, the RAM 104, the storage memory105, the LAN I/F unit 106, a line I/F unit 107, an input-output (IO)control B unit 108, and an IO control A unit 109 are connected to thesystem bus 101. The IO control A unit 109 connects the system bus 101 tothe image bus 110, which is used to transfer image data at high speed.The IO control A unit 109 serves as a bus bridge for converting a datastructure for the system bus 101. The image bus 110 is composed of ageneral-purpose bus, such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)bus, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394bus, or a PCI Express (PCIe) bus.

The IO control A unit 109, an image processing unit 111, a reading unit112, and a printer unit 113 are connected to the image bus 110. Theimage bus 110 connects the image processing unit 111 to the reading unit112 and the printer unit 113, and is used to perform conversion of imagedata between a synchronous system and an asynchronous system. The imageprocessing unit 111 performs image processing, such as resolutionconversion, compression and decompression, and binary-multivaluedconversion, on input and output image data. Furthermore, the imageprocessing unit 111 receives image data from the reading unit 112, andperforms control to transfer the received image data to the RAM 104 viathe image bus 110 and the system bus 101.

The image processing unit 111 is implemented with image processingapplication specific integrated circuits (ASIC) (hardware), whichperforms various image processing operations, and software executed bythe CPU 103, which controls the image processing ASIC. The imageprocessing ASIC includes registers for respectively setting the formatsof data to be processed and the processing contents. The imageprocessing unit 111 performs image processing while performing settingson the registers of the image processing ASIC based on the controlsoftware executed by the CPU 103. The IO control B unit 108, whichcontrols inputting and outputting of image data, is an interface unitassociated with the operation unit 114 (user interface (UI)). The IOcontrol B unit 108 outputs, to the operation unit 114, image data to bedisplayed on the operation unit 114. Furthermore, the IO control B unit108 transmits, to the CPU 103, information entered by the user of thepresent system via the operation unit 114.

The operation unit 114 is an interface (U/I) unit equipped with adisplay device and a keypad device, which are controlled by software. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, the operation unit 114 is composed ofa liquid crystal display (LCD) touch panel and other components, andinterprets and displays a Video Graphics Array (VGA) signal output fromthe IO control B unit 108. The details of the reading unit 112 aredescribed with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of the reading unit112 in the image processing apparatus according to the present exemplaryembodiment. A scanner unit included in the reading unit 112 is describedin detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, a reference shaft 203, which serves as a referenceaxis along which to move a sensor unit 202 in the sub scanning direction(in the direction of arrow A), is mounted at a frame body 201. Then, adrive force from a flat-bed (FB) reading stepping motor 205 (hereinafterreferred to as a “stepping motor 205”) is transmitted to a belt 204 viaa group of gears 206.

The belt 204 is used to move the sensor unit 202 along the referenceshaft 203. The frame body 201 is equipped with a document positioningplate glass 207, on which to place a document, and a document-feeding(DF) reading window 308, which is used for DF scan. The DF readingwindow 308 is made of a material through which light from alight-emitting diode (LED) serving as a light source is allowed to pass,like the document positioning plate glass 207. The sensor unit 202 iscapable of being freely moved within an area including the documentpositioning plate glass 207 and the DF reading window 308. Whenreceiving a scan instruction from the control unit 115, the reading unit112 drives the stepping motor 105 to drive the belt 204 via the group ofgears 206.

According to driving of the belt 204, the sensor unit 202 moves in thesub scanning direction along the reference shaft 203 and reads adocument placed on the document position plate glass 207. A documentfeeder (DF) unit included in the reading unit 112 is described in detailbelow with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of the DF unit,which is connected to the scanner unit illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the DF unit is equipped with a document tray 300,on which to stack a document that is to be read. On the document tray300, there are provided a document sensor 302, which is used to detectthe presence or absence of a document, two document guides 301, and adocument size detection sensor 312.

The document guides 301 are arranged in pair side by side in thedocument longitudinal direction (in a direction perpendicular to thedocument conveyance direction). The document stacked on the documenttray 300 is conveyed by three roller groups, including pickup rollers304, conveyance rollers 306, and discharge rollers 303. The pickuprollers 304 are used to convey the document stacked on the document tray300 into a document conveyance path inside the DF unit.

The conveyance rollers 306 are used to convey the document conveyed bythe pickup rollers 304 into the document conveyance path, and thedischarge rollers 303 are used to convey the document conveyed by theconveyance rollers 306 up to a discharge tray 310. Furthermore, thedocument conveyed by the pickup rollers 304 is detected by a documentpassage detection sensor 305, so that it is determined whether the firstsheet of the document has completely passed, based on the time ofdetection of the document.

Moreover, although not illustrated in FIG. 3, the pickup rollers 304,the conveyance rollers 306, and the discharge rollers 303 are driven bythe respective stepping motors. Sub scanning thinning-out processing inthe DF unit is implemented by doubling the frequencies of drive pulsesfor the pickup rollers 304, the conveyance rollers 306, and thedischarge rollers 303, similar to a case where sub scanning thinning-outprocessing in the scanner unit is implemented by doubling the frequencyto be input to the stepping motor 205. The document conveyed by the DFunit is read, via the DF reading window 308, by a contact image sensor(CIS) 208, which is mounted in the sensor unit 302 located below the DFreading window 308. The sensor unit 202, which includes the CIS 208, iscapable of being freely moved in the sub scanning direction, asmentioned in the foregoing, and is also capable of being moved in thesame direction as the conveyance direction of the document conveyed fromthe conveyance rollers 306 to the discharge rollers 303.

In addition, the DF reading window 308 has a certain degree of length inthe sub scanning direction. The CIS 208 is movable to an arbitraryposition within a range of such length of the DF reading window 308,thus enabling reading of the document at the position of the CIS 208 asmoved. The CIS 208 is composed of an aggregation of photoelectricconversion elements, such as charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors, andsimultaneously performs first in, first out (FIFO) for accumulating animage for each photoelectric conversion element and generation ofcontrol signals for controlling FIFO and the photoelectric conversionelements. The CIS 208 is generally implemented by arranging a pluralityof photoelectric conversion elements in a line. A method fortransferring read data to the control unit 115 and a method fordetecting a data transfer error during reading are described in detailwith reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B and FIGS. 5A and 5B.

FIG. 4A is a timing chart of reading signals that are output from theCIS 208 illustrated in FIG. 3.

While the present exemplary embodiment is described assuming that theCIS 208 is composed of six photoelectric conversion elements, this isonly for ease of description. The number of photoelectric conversionelements is not limited to six. Furthermore, in the present exemplaryembodiment, a method for detecting any abnormality of a horizontalsynchronization (HSync) signal based on the number of pixels of one lineand a synchronization signal for one line is described. However, thisdoes not imply that the present invention is limited to processingassociated with the detection of abnormality of an HSync signal 402(A).Similar processing is applicable to all of clock signals associated withdata transfer, such as a vertical synchronization (VSync) signal 401(A)and a sampling clock (SClk) signal 403(A).

Furthermore, there are known various methods for detecting signalabnormality, all of which can be applied as an error detection method inthe present exemplary embodiment. At the time of image reading, thecontrol unit 115 causes the control software, which is executed by theCPU 103, to set the number of pixels and the number of lines of an imageto be read by the photoelectric conversion elements to the registers ofthe image processing ASIC constituting the image processing unit 111. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, since the photoelectric conversionelements are assumed to be composed of six pixels, reading is performedwith six pixels. However, this does not imply that the number of pixelsto be read is limited to six. Configuration examples of the registersincluded in the image processing ASIC are described with reference toFIGS. 5A and 5B.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate configuration examples of the registersincluded in the image processing ASIC.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, at the time of start of image reading, thecontrol unit 115 sets “6”, which is the number of pixels to be read, toa one-line number-of-pixels register 501. The control unit 115 also sets“5”, which is the number of lines desired to be read, to a readingdesired number-of-lines register 502. After completion of setting to theregisters, the control unit 115 issues, to the reading unit 112, animage reading instruction together with information about the number ofpixels to be read and the number of lines.

While, in the present exemplary embodiment, the number of pixels to beread is assumed to be “6” and the number of lines desired to be read isassumed to be “5”, this does not imply that the number of pixels to beread and the number of lines are restricted. The number of pixels to beread and the number of lines are not restricted as long as they does notexceed the capacity and number of photoelectric conversion elements andFIFO memories constituting the CIS 208.

The reading unit 112, having received the image reading instruction fromthe control unit 115, issues a VSync signal 401(A) or 401(B), whichindicates the start of read data, and outputs data from thephotoelectric conversion elements 0 to 5 of the CIS 208 to the FIFOmemories included in the CIS 208. The image processing ASIC of the imageprocessing unit 111, having received the VSync signal 401(A),initializes the value of a number-of-read-completed-lines register 504to “0”. Furthermore, the image processing ASIC of the image processingunit 111 also initializes a clock error register 505 and a statusregister 512, which are used to detect whether an error has occurred atthe time of image reading, to “0”.

The CIS 208 outputs an HSync signal 402(A), which indicates the head ofa line, to issue an instruction to start transfer of data for one line.Furthermore, the CIS 208 outputs, onto the image bus 110, the data fromthe photoelectric conversion elements stored in the FIFO memoriesincluded in the CIS 208. The image processing ASIC of the imageprocessing unit 111, having received the HSync signal 402(A),initializes a number-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 to “0”. Theinitialization of the number-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 isperformed every time the HSync signal 402(A) is received, so that thenumber of read-completed pixels is reset for every line.

After outputting the data from the FIFO memories onto the image bus 110,the CIS 208 outputs an SClk signal 403(A) to notify the image processingunit 111 that a signal for one pixel has been output onto the image bus110. The image processing ASIC of the image processing unit 111, havingreceived the SClk signal 403(A) acquires data for one pixel from theimage bus 110, and transfers the acquired data for one pixel to the RAM104. After transferring the data for one pixel to the RAM 104, the imageprocessing ASIC of the image processing unit 111 increments the value ofthe number-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 by one, thus recordinginformation indicating that reading for one pixel has been completed.

The CIS 208 repeats, a number of times corresponding to the number ofpixels designated by the image reading instruction, an operation ofreading out data about each photoelectric conversion element from thecorresponding FIFO memory, outputting the read-out data onto the imagebus 110, and outputting the SClk signal. The image processing ASIC ofthe image processing unit 111, having received the SClk signal, alsotakes in data for one pixel, transfers the taken-in data to the RAM 104,and then increments the number-of-read-completed-pixels register 503.

The image processing ASIC of the image processing unit 111 repeats suchan operation until the value of the number-of-read-completed-pixelsregister 503 and the value of the one-line number-of-pixels register 501become equal to each other. When the value of thenumber-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 and the value of theone-line number-of-pixels register 501 have become equal to each other,the image processing ASIC of the image processing unit 111 refrains fromtransferring data to the RAM 104 even if the SClk signal 403(A) isinput. Furthermore, the image processing ASIC of the image processingunit 111 also refrains from incrementing thenumber-of-read-completed-pixels register 503.

After completing outputting data for a number of pixels designated bythe image reading instruction, the CIS 208 rotates the conveyancerollers 306 or the stepping motor 205 to move the CIS 208 itself or thedocument to a reading position for the next line. After the movement ofthe CIS 208 or the document, the CIS 208 also stores data about thephotoelectric conversion elements 0 to 5 into the FIFO memories. Aftercompletion of storing into the FIFO memories, the CIS 208 outputs theHSync signal 402(A), thus informing the image processing unit 111 thatthe image data has proceeded to the next line. The image processing ASICof the image processing unit 111, having received the HSync signal fromthe CIS 208, checks whether the value of thenumber-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 and the value of theone-line number-of-pixels register 501 are equal to each other.

This processing is referred to as “number-of-read-completed-pixelscomparison processing”. The number-of-read-completed-pixels comparisonprocessing is performed by hardware constituting the image processingASIC of the image processing unit 111.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for the imageprocessing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. Thecontrol method illustrated in FIG. 6 is an example of thenumber-of-read-completed-pixels comparison processing. First, in stepS601, the image processing ASIC of the image processing unit 111 readsout and sets the value recorded in the number-of-read-completed-linesregister 504 to a variable L. After completion of read-out, in stepS602, the image processing ASIC of the image processing unit 111 makes acomparison to check whether the variable L of thenumber-of-read-completed-lines register 504 is “0”. This comparison ismade to prevent such a situation that, in a case where the HSync signal402 is input immediately after the VSync signal 401, since thenumber-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 and thenumber-of-read-completed-lines register 504 are initialized, it isnecessarily determined that a clock error has occurred. If the variableL of the number-of-read-completed-lines register 504 is “0” (YES in stepS602), the number-of-read-completed-pixels comparison processing ends.If the HSync signal for the second line or subsequent line (L≧1) isinput (NO in step S602), the processing proceeds to step S603.

In step S603, the image processing ASIC of the image processing unit 111reads out and sets the value of the one-line number-of-pixels register501 to a variable P1. In step S604, the image processing ASIC of theimage processing unit 111 reads out and sets the value of thenumber-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 to a variable P2. In stepS605, the image processing ASIC of the image processing unit 111 makes acomparison between the value of the variable P1 and the value of thevariable P2. If the value of the variable P1 is not equal to the valueof the variable P2 (NO in step S605), then in step S606, the imageprocessing ASIC of the image processing unit 111 sets “1” to the clockerror register 505. If the value of the variable P1 is equal to thevalue of the variable P2 (YES in step S605), the image processing ASICof the image processing unit 111 directly terminates thenumber-of-read-completed-pixels comparison processing without rewritingthe value of the clock error register 505. [Read Processing at the timeof Normal Operation]

The value of the clock error register 505 is initialized to “0” inresponse to the VSync signal 401 being input, and is set to “1” onlywhen the value of the variable P1 is not equal to the value of thevariable P2 due to the HSync signal 402 being input. If the value of thevariable P1 is equal to the value of the variable P2 at the time ofinput of each HSync signal, the value of the clock error register 505 isnot updated.

Accordingly, even if the HSync signals 402 for the desired number oflines for reading are input, unless the VSync signal 401 for the nextreading is input, the value of the clock error register 505 is keptunchanged. If, as a result of the number-of-read-completed-pixelscomparison processing, the value of the number-of-read-completed-pixelsregister 503 is equal to the value of the one-line number-of-pixelsregister 501, the image processing ASIC of the image processing unit 111increments the value of the number-of-read-completed-lines register 504.The correct values 506(A) to 511(A) of the respective registers 501,502, 503, 504, 505, and 512 set after the completion of reading for oneline become as illustrated in FIG. 5A. The same processing is repeated anumber of times corresponding to the desired number of lines forreading.

[Read Processing at the Time of Abnormal Operation]

FIG. 4B is a timing chart of reading signals in a case where an abnormalHSync signal 404 is input due to the influence of, for example, noisebefore the SClk signals for a number of pixels desired for reading arecompletely input to the image processing ASIC of the image processingunit 111.

After the first HSync signal 405 is input, image transfer is performedaccording to the SClk signal 403(B). When the abnormal HSync signal 404has been input, the value 508(B) (FIG. 5B) of thenumber-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 becomes “4”.

Accordingly, as a result of the number-of-read-completed-pixelscomparison processing, in which the value 508(B), “4”, of thenumber-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 when the abnormal HSyncsignal 404 has been input is compared with the value 506(B), “6”, of theone-line number-of-pixels register 501, “1” is set to the value 510(B)of the clock error register 505, as illustrated in FIG. 5B. Furthermore,in a case where, when the HSync signal has been input, the value of thenumber-of-read-completed-lines register 504 has become equal to thevalue of the reading desired number-of-lines register 502, since it isdetermined that reading has been normally completed, “0” is set to thevalue 511(A) of the status register 512, as illustrated in FIG. 5A.Moreover, in a case where a clock error has occurred, “1” is set to thevalue 511(B) of the status register 512, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, sothat an error notification is issued.

The above-described processing enables implementing the detection of asignal abnormality occurring at the time of reading. In the presentexemplary embodiment, an example has been described in which a signalabnormality is detected using an incremental system in which the valueof the number-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 and the value of thenumber-of-read-completed-lines register 504 are incremented from thetime of start of reading.

However, a signal abnormality may be detected using a decremental systemin which the value of the one-line number-of-pixels register 501 islatched to the number-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 at the timeof input of the HSync signal, the value of thenumber-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 is decremented each timethe SClk signal is input, and a comparison is made to determine whetherthe value of the number-of-read-completed-pixels register 503 has become“0” when the next HSync signal is input.

The details of read processing performed when a read error has occurredare described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for the imageprocessing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. Thecontrol method illustrated in FIG. 7 is an example of the readprocessing performed when a read error has occurred. Each step isperformed by the CPU 103 executing a control application stored in theROM 102. Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, an example isdescribed in which First Copy Out Time (FCOT) mode or directtransmission mode is used as a mode corresponding to a first condition,and other modes are used as a mode corresponding to a second condition.Here, the mode corresponding to the second condition is, for example, amechanical error, such as a jam of fed sheets.

Moreover, in the present exemplary embodiment, an example is describedin which a job type used at the time of reading is read processing inthe direct transmission mode. This does not imply that the presentexemplary embodiment is limited to read processing in the directtransmission mode. Since the present exemplary embodiment is directed toan operation of referring to job information generated on the RAM 104due to the execution of a particular job and switching error processingat the time of reading, the present exemplary embodiment can be appliedto all of the reading operations in which read processing andoutput-side processing are performed in synchronization with each other,such as FCOT mode and other similar modes.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a user interface (UI) screen displayedon the operation unit 114 illustrated in FIG. 1. The UI screenillustrated in FIG. 8 corresponds to an operation screen for facsimiletransmission.

In the following description, unless otherwise stated, all of theflowcharts, control operations, screen display, and other operations,which are to be executed in the present exemplary embodiment, are storedin the ROM 102 or the storage memory 105 included in the control unit115, and are performed by the control application executed by the CPU103.

To perform copying or facsimile transmission, the user operates theoperation unit 114 to perform settings on a copy job or facsimiletransmission job. When, after performing the settings, the user issuesan instruction to start the job, the control application generates jobinformation such as that illustrated in FIG. 9A or 9B.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate examples of job information that isexecutable by the image processing apparatus according to the presentexemplary embodiment. In particular, FIG. 9A illustrates job informationgenerated to perform a copy job, in which the mode is set to “FCOT”. Inthe job information illustrated in FIG. 9A, the control application,when generating the job information, automatically determines whether tocause the image processing apparatus to operate in the FCOT mode,according to the other setting values (for example, the number of copiesand the color mode).

Furthermore, FIG. 9B illustrates an example of job informationindicating that the direct transmission mode is set.

In the case of facsimile transmission illustrated in FIG. 9B, to executethe facsimile transmission job, the user performs a button pressoperation on a UI screen, such as that illustrated in FIG. 8, displayedon the operation unit 114, thus issuing an instruction to set the directtransmission mode.

When the user presses a direct transmission mode key 801 illustrated inFIG. 8, an instruction indicating that a job in the direct transmissionmode is input is issued, so that the direct transmission mode key 801 ishighlighted. When, with the direct transmission mode key 801highlighted, an instruction to execute transmission is issued by theuser via the operation unit 114, the control application, which isexecuted by the CPU 103, generates job information, such as thatillustrated in FIG. 9B, and starts read processing, printing, orfacsimile transmission processing. The read processing is performed bythe control application executing the flowchart of FIG. 7.

Furthermore, in the following description of read processing, thesettings of the number of pixels, the number of lines, and other itemsassociated with the read processing are previously determined by thecontrol application, and various settings required for reading an imageare set to the image processing ASIC of the image processing unit 111.Incidentally, since processing for determining a setting value about thesize of an image to be read does not have much relationship with thegist of the present application, the description of that processing isomitted.

When the read processing is executed, first, processing for determiningthe number of times of retry at the time of occurrence of an error isperformed.

In steps S701 and S702 illustrated in FIG. 7, the control application,which is executed by the CPU 103, checks whether the mode fields 901(A)and 901(B) in the job information 900(A) and the job information 900(B)indicate “FCOT” and “direct transmission mode”, respectively.

The job information 900(A) and the job information 900(B) illustrated inFIGS. 9A and 9B are respectively job information for a copy job and jobinformation for direct transmission, and either job information isgenerated for the associated job.

For example, when the read processing is performed for a copy job, thejob information 900(A) is generated, and when the read processing isperformed for the direct transmission mode, the job information 900(B)is generated. In the above-mentioned step S701, first, the controlapplication determines whether the job type field in the job informationindicates copy. If it is determined that the job type field indicatescopy, the control application refers to the value of the mode field.

If the job type field indicates “copy” and the value of the mode fieldis “FCOT”, the control application determines that the mode in the jobinformation is “FCOT” (YES in step S701). Then, the processing proceedsto step S703. In step S703, the control application sets a retry countersetting value Cnt, which is allocated on the RAM 104, to “0”.

Similarly, in step S702, the control application determines whether thedirect transmission mode is set. If the control application determinesthat the job type field indicates “facsimile transmission” and the modefield indicates “direct transmission mode” (YES in step S702), theprocessing also proceeds to step S703, in which the control applicationsets the retry counter setting value Cnt to “0”. In the other cases (NOin step S701 and NO in step S702), the processing proceeds to step S704,in which the control application sets the retry counter setting valueCnt to “1”.

Here, for ease of description, assume that the retry counter settingvalue Cnt is “1”. However, this does not imply that the number of timesof retry is limited to one.

Furthermore, the number of times of retry can be dynamically setaccording to various conditions and is not limiting. For example, imageforming apparatuses may be equipped with localized information for everycountry corresponding to the destination in which each image formingapparatus is used, and the number of times of retry may be changedaccording to the localized information.

In addition, the user may be allowed to set the maximum number of timesof retry via a screen on the operation unit 114, or the setting of thenumber of times of retry may be dynamically switched according to thecondition of voltage variation of a power source.

After setting the number of times of retry to the retry counter settingvalue Cnt, then in step S705, the control application performs scanprocessing. To start the scan processing, the control applicationissues, to the reading unit 112, a reading request including the numberof pixels and the number of lines of an image.

In this instance, the control application sets the number of pixels andthe number of lines of an image to be read to the one-linenumber-of-pixels register 501 and the reading desired number-of-linesregister 502, respectively, which are registers of the image processingASIC of the image processing unit 111.

The reading unit 112, having received the reading request, issuesappropriate synchronization signals, including the VSync signal 401(A),the HSync signal 402(A), and the SClk signal 403(A), and transfers dataacquired from the photoelectric conversion elements to the control unit115. Then, the processing proceeds to step S706, in which the controlapplication determines whether an image has been normally acquired. Thisdetermination is made by checking two condition points about whether areading completion notification indicating the normal completion hasbeen received from the reading unit 112 and whether the clock errorregister 505 and the status register 512 of the image processing ASIC ofthe image processing unit 111 are not set to values other than 0. If thecontrol application determines that either condition point is not met,i.e., a reading abnormality has occurred (NO in step S706), theprocessing proceeds to step S707.

In step S707, the control application determines whether the value ofthe clock error register 505 is “1”. If the control applicationdetermines that the value of the clock error register 505 is “1” (YES instep S707), then in step S708, the control application decrements theretry counter setting value Cnt, which is used to count the number oftimes of execution of predetermined job processing, by “1”.

Then, in step S709, the control application determines whether the retrycounter setting value Cnt is “0” or more. If the control applicationdetermines that the retry counter setting value Cnt is “0” or more (YESin step S709), then in step S710, the control application displays, onthe operation unit 114, a screen indicating that the retry processing isin process due to a signal error, thus informing the user that the retryprocessing is in process.

After the control application changes a screen displayed on theoperation unit 114, the processing automatically proceeds to step S711.In step S711, the control application performs error recoveryprocessing. The error recovery processing includes discarding read imagedata and clearing the registers 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, and 512 of theimage processing ASIC of the image processing unit 111.

Furthermore, in a case where the image processing apparatus is in thedirect transmission mode or the FCOT mode, the error recovery processingfurther includes canceling transmitted image processing and printedimage processing at the output side, disconnecting a communication line,and discharging fed print sheets. An example of a UI screen displayedwhen the retry processing is in process is illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a UI screen displayed on the operationunit 114 illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 10, on a screen displayed during scanning at thenormal time, an error processing-in-process notification 1001 isadditionally displayed. While, in the present exemplary embodiment, amessage indicating that reread processing is automatically beingperformed as error processing is displayed, the user may be allowed toselect whether to perform reread processing at the time of occurrence ofan error.

In such an instance, a selection key for selecting whether to performreread processing is additionally displayed in the screen illustrated inFIG. 10, and, when a reread instruction is issued by the user, theprocessing proceeds to step S711.

On the other hand, if, in step S707, the control application determinesthat the value of the clock error register 505 is “0” (NO in step S707),the processing proceeds to step S712. In step S712, the controlapplication determines whether a reading completion notification hasbeen received from the reading unit 112. If the control applicationdetermines that the reading completion notification has not beenreceived (NO in step S712), since it is determined that reading is stillin process, the processing returns to step S706.

On the other hand, if the control application determines that thereading completion notification has been received (YES in step S712),the control application recognizes error information included in thereading completion notification and detects that another abnormality,such as a document jam, has occurred. Then, the processing proceeds tostep S713.

In step S713, the control application displays, on the operation unit114, an error notification screen for prompting the user to perform someaction. For example, according to text 1101 displayed on the screenillustrated in FIG. 11, after solving a document conveyance jam, theuser presses a reread instruction key 1102, thus issuing a rereadinstruction to the image forming apparatus.

Then, in step S711, the control application, having received aninstruction from the user via the operation unit 114, performs errorrecovery processing. The error recovery processing performed after stepS713 does not include disconnecting a communication line and dischargingfed print sheets.

On the other hand, if, in step S709, the control application determinesthat the image processing apparatus is in a state in which rereadprocessing is to be performed a number of times corresponding to theretry counter setting value Cnt or more (NO in step S709), theprocessing proceeds to step S714. In step S714, the control applicationdisplays, on the operation unit 114, a predetermined error notification,for example, a screen 1201 illustrated in FIG. 12 for indicating ahardware error notification.

Then, when reading is normally completed after rereading, the processingproceeds to step S715. In step S715, the control application performsreading end processing, thus completing reading for one sheet of thedocument.

With the above-described processing performed, an image processingapparatus can be implemented which is capable of automaticallyperforming reread processing at the time of detection of a signalabnormality without unlimitedly performing recovery processing forreading and without performing wasteful read processing.

Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, an example has beendescribed using a decremental system in which the upper limit value ofthe number of times of retry is stored in the RAM 104 and the number oftimes of retry is decremented for every reread processing. However, animage forming apparatus can also be implemented using an incrementalsystem in which another counter is incremented for every read processingand the incremented counter is compared with thenumber-of-times-of-retry upper setting value Cnt stored in the RAM 104.

In the above-described first exemplary embodiment, there has beendescribed an example of recovery processing for solving an abnormalityof signal processing indicated in step S701 or S702 as a firstcondition. On the other hand, according to a second exemplaryembodiment, a threshold value to be set to the number-of-times-of-retrysetting value Cnt can be made variable according to information aboutcountries in which image forming apparatuses are used.

This enables an image forming apparatus to perform retry processingadapted to the image forming apparatus in further consideration of anelectric power condition or other conditions of a destination in whichthe image forming apparatus is used.

Other Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention, andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more ofa central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or othercircuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separatecomputer processors. The computer executable instructions may beprovided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storagemedium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of ahard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), astorage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2014-262922 filed Dec. 25, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: areading unit configured to read a document image; a printing unitconfigured to print the document image read by the reading unit; adetection unit configured to detect an error in process of reading bythe reading unit; and a control unit configured to cause the readingunit to perform reread processing for rereading the document image basedon the error being detected by the detection unit, wherein, in a casewhere the image processing apparatus operates in a mode in which theprinting unit starts printing without waiting for the reading unit tocomplete reading a document image, the control unit refrains fromcausing the reading unit to perform the reread processing based on theerror being detected by the detection unit.
 2. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects theerror based on a number of pixels of one line read by the reading unitnot corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels.
 3. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storageunit configured to store a number of times to perform the rereadprocessing, wherein the control unit causes the reading unit to performthe reread processing based on the number of times stored by the storageunit.
 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, furthercomprising a notification unit configured to issue an error notificationbased on the detection unit detecting the error in the process ofreading by the reading unit after the reread processing is performed thenumber of times stored by the storage unit.
 5. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein, based on the detection unitdetecting the error, the control unit discards the document image readby the reading unit and causes the reading unit to perform the rereadprocessing for rereading the document image.
 6. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unitconfigured to provide a display indicating that the reread processing isbeing performed during a period for which the reading unit is caused bythe control unit to perform the reread processing for rereading thedocument image.
 7. A control method for an image processing apparatusincluding a reading unit configured to read a document image and aprinting unit configured to print the document image read by the readingunit, the control method comprising: detecting an error in process ofreading by the reading unit; causing the reading unit to perform rereadprocessing for rereading the document image based on the error beingdetected; and refraining, in a case where the image processing apparatusoperates in a mode in which the printing unit starts printing withoutwaiting for the reading unit to complete reading a document image, fromcausing the reading unit to perform the reread processing based on theerror being detected.
 8. A computer-readable storage medium storingcomputer executable instructions that, when executed by a computer,cause the computer to perform a control method for an image processingapparatus including a reading unit configured to read a document imageand a printing unit configured to print the document image read by thereading unit, the control method comprising: detecting an error inprocess of reading by the reading unit; causing the reading unit toperform reread processing for rereading the document image based on theerror being detected; and refraining, in a case where the imageprocessing apparatus operates in a mode in which the printing unitstarts printing without waiting for the reading unit to complete readinga document image, from causing the reading unit to perform the rereadprocessing based on the error being detected.